The Giovanni Maga Memorial Day marks the first anniversary of his passing by honoring the scientist and former Director of the IGM‑CNR through commemorative addresses and the presentation of works awarded in his name. During the event, the Giovanni Maga Prize, established by the IGM‑CNR, will be presented, along with contributions from the recipients of the awards dedicated to the Professor over the past year.

One year after the passing of Giovanni Maga, former Director of the “Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza” Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGM CNR) and of the CNR Department of Biomedical Sciences (DSB CNR), the IGM dedicates a day of remembrance and scientific reflection to celebrate his role as a researcher, mentor, and science communicator. The event will take place on Friday, 27 March 2026, at the institute’s headquarters in Via Ferrata 9/A, Pavia, at 4:00 PM.

The event will open with contributions from Marco Foiani, Director of IGM CNR, and Emmanuele Crespan, CNR Research Director, long‑time colleague and friend of Giovanni Maga, who will recall his scientific vision, leadership, and decisive contribution to the development of Italian research in the fields of molecular virology and nucleic‑acid enzymology.

During the day, the Giovanni Maga Prize, established by IGM CNR to honor the scientific and human legacy of the Professor and aimed at young researchers active in the fields central to his work, will also be awarded. The prize seeks to highlight excellence and creativity in research, reflecting Maga’s commitment to fostering the growth of new generations of scientists.

Awards Dedicated to the Memory of Giovanni Maga

Over the past year, various bodies and institutions have dedicated awards and recognitions to the memory of Giovanni Maga, highlighting the many facets of his activity and personality: Maga as a mentor, close to young researchers; Maga as an author and communicator, with an extensive and authoritative scientific output; Maga as a lecturer, committed to university education; and Maga as a scientist, a reference point in the international research community.

For this reason, the IGM has invited to the day the recipients of several prizes awarded in his memory in 2025–2026, who will present their work on this occasion. Speakers include:

  • Eleonora Bruno, recipient of the “Giovanni Maga” Graduation Award of the Istituto Lombardo Accademia di Scienze e Lettere, granted to a recent graduate of the Master’s Degree in Experimental and Applied Biology at the University of Pavia.
  • Giulia Bastianello and Carla Lucia Esposito, recipients of the DSB CNR “Giovanni Maga” Award, given for the best scientific article by early‑career researchers under 35 in the field of molecular virology or nucleic‑acid enzymology, for research conducted in Italy.
  • Sofia Maria Luigia Tiano, recipient of the Young Researchers “Giovanni Maga” Award – IGM CNR, granted for the best scientific article published in an international journal in the past three years in the field of molecular virology or nucleic‑acid enzymology.

The scientific presentations will be followed by the award ceremony for the Giovanni Maga Prize established by the IGM.

The day aims not only to commemorate Giovanni Maga but also to reflect on his cultural and scientific legacy, which played an essential role in the growth of the IGM, the Pavia scientific community, and the wider CNR. His passion for research, combined with an extraordinary ability to communicate and tireless dedication to young scientists, continues to inspire those who carry forward his work.

A Leading Figure in the International Scientific Community

Giovanni Maga (1965–2025) was an internationally renowned virologist and geneticist and a central figure in Italian scientific research. Former head of the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Pavia, he later became Director of the CNR Department of Biomedical Sciences.

Author of more than 200 scientific publications and several widely appreciated popular‑science books, Prof. Maga put his deep expertise at the service of public communication, particularly during the critical phase of the Covid‑19 pandemic, when he stood out as an authoritative voice and a reference point for the scientific community.

Throughout his career, Maga also devoted constant effort to the training of new generations: he actively promoted the integration of numerous young researchers into the scientific community, supporting projects, fellowships, and offering valuable professional development opportunities within the CNR.